The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-05

members have responded to their names
on call OF the roll, the work of organiza-
ton will be proceeded with. The speaker
having been duly elected and the oath adj
mnistered to him 10y Mr.. Kelley, of Penn
sylvania, the members elect will take their
stand in front OF the speakers desk and
qualify. No hitch will occur in this pro-
ceeding, as there is no member whose
prima iacic right TO a seat is questioned.
The next business will he the drawing for
seats which will consume the remainder
OF the day. On Tuesday the Presidents
message will be received, read and re-
feTed TO the committee of the whole. 1t
has been customary for some years past TO
devote one day OF the first week of the
session to the introduction OF bills for refer
ence TO the appropriate committees when
appointed, but this practice has led to so
much confusion III the docketing and care
OF the papers before the committees have
organized and selected proper custodian
| for them that many OF the most eXpe-
| rienced congressman are OF opinion that it
should I've abolished and probably an
effort will be made to prevent the intro
duction OF bills until Speaker Carlisle shall
have announced his committee appoint
mcnts.
Until these important adiuncts are sup
| piled, no real Legislative business can be
accomplished by the House. The speaker
has already begun to sketch out their or
| ganizatiOn, but as was the case in the last
| Congress, he anticipates much difficulty
in periecting them. In the Forty-fourth
and Forty-iifth congresses the committees
were appointed within two weeks after the
beginning OF the first session, but since
then more time has been consumed
in the organization, and the last two con-
gresses il was not perfected before the hol-
iday recess. Owing to the close division
OF the new House on party lines, and the
large number OF new and untricd members.
whose personal preferences in the assign
ments 1t IL customary TO consider, TO the
largest extent compatible with party pol
icy, II seems probable that tho work Of
selecting the committees will again occupy
Speaker Carlislc's time nearly or quite up
to Christmas. Meanwhile no legislative
business of importance can he transacted,
and the House will probably consume the
short sessions intervening between fire.
quent adjournments, or perhaps recesscs
OF two or three days each, in debates OF q
political character.
At the beginning OF the Forty.nintll
Congress the chief topic Of interest in
House circles was the proposed change OF
rules, which was intended TO restrict the
power OF the committee on appropriations.
Though no such Wholesale revision Of the
rules as then took place is again contem,
plated, the customary motion to adopt the
rules OF the preceding House will m
doubtcdly give rise 10 some debate. and
/ ..Il.. l.. 4 81
some important particulars. Previous 10
the last change there was q dead.lcttcr
rule in the manual requiring the commit.
tee on appropriations IN report all the ap
preparation bills within thirty days after
its enactment, and this rule il is proposed
10 re-enact and enforce with reference L
all committees having general appropra
ton bills within their Jurisdiction. ltwil
be amended however, so rs 10 extend e
sixty days the time within which sucl
bills must be reported during the long scs
sion, while leaving thirty days as tn,
maximum for the s,fOrt session. A stronl
effort will he made 10 have rule adoptc,
20 prohibit the introduction OF private bill
in open House and require that all thcs
measures shall reach the appropriate com
mittecs through the medium Oi the petition
box. This would effect saving OF time {,
the House and Of expense 30 the govern
menL At present 800 copies are printc,
Of every bill introduced, and rs a large ma
jonty OF the private measures referred q
committees remain there buried, thci
printing involves an apparently needles
expenditure OF money. Should the pro
posed rule be adopted, no private bill vii
: be printed until II is acted upon by th
committee and reported 10 the House 10
. It's consideration.
THE INTEHsrATE COMMERCE Law.
: Congressman Townsend and Springer
, with other gentlemen. had a consultation
today with Senator Cullom relative 10 som
legislation which, 10y amendments 30 ih
Z interstate commerce law, will regulate th
y traffic Of this country passing over th
! Grand Trunk and other Canadiln railway
A from points in the United States throug
, Canada 10 other points In this country
One Of these gentlemen will inirDiuc
some measures in Congress which will %,
c complish this purpose without occasionin
o any Increased cost OF transportation 20 th
( consumer. IL has been suggested u
. others who have carefully considered th
, subject that Congress should require th
payment of customs duties on articles n
y imported into this country over tie Cans
r dian railways.
y TO REGULATE IMMIGRATION.
u Senator Palmer, oi Michigan, will inirJ
d ducc in the senate, at the earliest pOssibI
IL opportunity after the organization of thi
. body, a bin prepared 10y him for the pm
y pose 0f regulating and restricting immigri
y ton 10 the United States by keeping ol
i pcpons who seem likely 10 be undcsiub
citizens.